Calling all predators

The glory days of hunting the hunters are upon us.

As depicted in this lifelike mount by Wilson s Taxidermy of Lebanon, red foxes are cunning and opportunistic hunters. Pursuing predators under low light conditions with electronic calls can be an exciting late-season adventure. (LEBANON DAILY NEWS TYLER FRANTZ)

With the disheartening realization that all Pennsylvania big-game seasons have officially closed for the year (at least until statewide gobbler rolls around this spring), many die-hard hunters still can't help but find themselves yearning for something more.

That ever-present urge to "get out and after it" still burns inside many, just like the last fiery embers of a wood-burning stove on a cold winter's night at deer camp.

Fortunately, much like a mindful fire-tender can transform the fading glow of dwindling wood coals into a powerful, heat-throwing inferno of greatness - simply by adding more fuel to the fire - so too can the common sportsman satisfy his longing for a challenging outdoor pursuit.

It's not too late to satiate a hunter's natural desire for gaining the upper hand over an elusive and cunning quarry. Sometimes one needs only to scratch the itch that ails him - and the simple choice for doing so is predator hunting.

With a fresh dusting of snow blanketing local farmlands, one need not journey far to observe that there is certainly no shortage of red fox residing in the area. The species, which was heavily targeted during the trapping revolution of the late '70s, has made an impressive rebound in recent decades.

These highly adaptable and opportunistic canines, along with their larger cousins, the Eastern coyote, are becoming more and more prolific across the Commonwealth.

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Their elusive nature, predatory instincts and excellent eyesight also make hunting them an exciting challenge. Surprisingly though, only a fraction of outdoorsmen regularly take advantage of our state's liberal furbearer seasons.

Jonathan Kelly of Palmyra is one Lebanon County hunter who turns to predator calling as a thrilling option for extending his annual hunting season. He and his friends use an electronic game call to lure foxes and coyotes into range, and he can clearly attest to the multitude of shot opportunities that our valley's rolling farm country has to offer.

"We first got into predator hunting because during our winter crow hunts we noticed plenty of fox signs - tracks, scat, etc.," Kelly said. "It was clear that there were a lot of dogs in the area, so after a while, we figured we'd try calling for them using rabbit distress calls. Once we got the hang of things, we started experiencing great success."

Kelly went on to explain that his group of rookie furbearing pals initially eased into the sport very modestly. He mentioned that those who are curious about giving it a try could do so relatively inexpensively, as many sporting goods stores offer a variety of electric and handheld calls to meet consumer preference.

"At first," Kelly stated," we used an old Johnny Stewart cassette call rigged-up with a car amplifier, 12-gauge shotguns and handheld red LED flashlights to hunt fox at night. That worked just fine, but recently we all chipped in and upgraded our gear."

"The 17's are also much quieter, which is more respectful to the local farmers during late-night hunts," Kelly said, "and the digital call we bought can hold up to 500 downloadable sounds. It was a big investment, but we were willing to do that. Like anything, it's basically whatever you want to make of it."

For those who are new to fox or coyote hunting, the best chances for a shot occur at dawn, dusk or after dark since canines tend to be most active at night. In selecting a hunting location, it is helpful to do some scouting in advance to find areas that offer scavenging dogs an easy meal.

Many farmers in the county are eager to have predators removed from their properties and willingly grant permission to responsible hunters who ask nicely. Public lands also offer ample shot opportunities and should not be overlooked.

When setting up, it is important to wear quality camouflage and seek out secluded field corners with good visibility and a concealing backdrop where one can easily blend in without being picked out by approaching eyes.

If possible, stash the call in a location where you can draw the predators out into the open for a quality shot before they catch your movement and bust out of the area. A fancy motion decoy will help draw their attention, but a simple turkey feather attached to a stake with string will often do the trick just as well.

When running an electronic caller, it is important to ease into the call series, beginning with a low volume at first and slowly increasing the decibels as time goes on. Alternate a few minutes of calling with a few minutes of rest. If nothing shows up after 20-30 minutes, it is time to pick up and try out a new location.

The many incentives of predator hunting include an opportunity to elongate your season, possibilities for making a few extra dollars in a booming fur market and quality time spent with friends during an otherwise slow time of the year.

It promotes an ecological benefit by keeping populations in check, helps local farmers protect their free-range livestock and can even serve as a gateway toward earning private permission during other hunting seasons.

Predator season affords sportsmen a chance to hone their senses and refine their marksmanship throughout the offseason, while bringing a whole different aspect of hunting to the table. Few other types of hunting can be legally done after darkness falls, and this unique feature of the sport can be especially alluring.

"The most exciting part of the hunt is that first contact you make with an incoming pair of red eyes surrounded by pitch black," Kelly said. "The feeling is indescribable. It's intense. To me, it's a bigger rush than deer hunting."

Pennsylvania's fox season runs through Feb. 16 and requires a furtakers license. Coyotes may be taken year round with either a furtakers or general hunting license.